Mojo In The Morning

The Worst Line to Get Stuck In

14 min
Apr 8, 202611 days ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

The Mojo in the Morning hosts discuss their worst experiences being trapped in lines, with Shannon sharing a 49-minute ordeal at Jack's Car Wash. The episode explores the psychology of unavoidable queues at car washes, fast food drive-throughs, and other businesses, featuring caller anecdotes about line frustrations and tips for navigating them.

Insights
  • Architectural design of service locations intentionally traps customers in lines, making exit impossible once committed
  • Consumer behavior shows people are more tolerant of long waits at entertainment venues (theme parks) than at utilitarian services (car washes)
  • Mobile app ordering with location-based food preparation (like Chick-fil-A) significantly improves customer experience and reduces wait frustration
  • Unlimited membership models create psychological pressure to maximize value, leading to more frequent visits regardless of actual need
  • Decision paralysis at ordering windows is a common pain point that slows service and frustrates customers behind in line
Trends
Rise of app-based ordering with location intelligence to optimize food preparation timingUnlimited subscription models driving increased customer frequency and perceived value maximizationCustomer frustration with forced parking lot waits at drive-throughs instead of window serviceGrowing expectation for fast service at quick-service restaurants, with impatience toward indecisive customersArchitectural design of service queues as intentional customer traps to manage flowMembership-based car wash services becoming standard for frequent usersCaller engagement on morning radio shows around relatable consumer frustrations
Companies
Jack's Car Wash
Shannon's primary example of a 49-minute line trap with hidden queue visibility from the road
McDonald's
Multiple discussions about drive-through ordering, app usage, loyalty points, and slow customer decision-making
Chick-fil-A
Praised for app-based ordering with location intelligence that starts food preparation when customer arrives
Starbucks
Mojo's daily morning order location where he experiences regular customer recognition and occasional delays
Taco Bell
Referenced for frequently changing menu items that cause customer indecision at ordering windows
Cedar Point
Theme park mentioned as example of long lines customers willingly accept versus car wash lines
Disney
Theme park mentioned as example of long lines customers willingly accept versus car wash lines
Michael's
Retail store where Shannon previously experienced long checkout lines similar to car wash wait time
People
Shannon
Co-host who experienced 49-minute car wash line and shared detailed account of the frustrating experience
Mojo
Primary host who drives the conversation and shares personal Starbucks ordering experience and frustrations
Kevin
Co-host who advocates for fast ordering and criticizes slow customers at service windows
Lydia
Person Shannon sent viral McDonald's video to featuring 83-year-old man paying for rude customer's order
Jody
Caller who experienced fast 10-minute car wash line and works in manufacturing where efficiency is critical
Corey
Caller who shared life hack about claiming broken reverse to avoid parking lot waits at drive-throughs
Samantha
Caller who suggested using fast food apps to pre-order and avoid decision paralysis at windows
Morgan
Caller who joked that Kevin was ahead of Shannon in car wash line and is addicted to car wash membership
Jim
Caller who defended slow ordering and menu exploration, advocating for customer patience
Courtney
Caller who identified parking garage gate malfunctions as worst line experience with no escape option
Chris
Caller who shared concern about conveyor belt car wash proximity causing accident risk between vehicles
Leonard
Caller who revealed he drives over landscaping and rocks to escape trapped car wash lines with Jeep
Quotes
"I sat there for 49 minutes. From the time I got into the line until the time I drove out, it was 49 minutes."
ShannonEarly in episode
"It's one of those lines that you get in and you can't get out of because there are other cars on either side of you and you can't back up. You can't go forward."
ShannonEarly in episode
"I am 83 years old. I was in the McDonald's drive-thru this morning. The young lady behind me leaned on her horn and started mouthing some ugly things because I was taking too long to place my order."
83-year-old McDonald's customer (from viral video)Mid-episode
"Fast food restaurant, meaning fast food, not slow food. That's the way they prepare it, not the way you order it."
KevinMid-episode
"I order my fast food like I make love fast. Fast and quick."
MojoLate in episode
Full Transcript
Mojo in the morning and Shannon got stuck in this line. And I don't even know how long you ended up there, but the worst line to get stuck in, Shannon, what is it? I know it's so stupid, but it like took over my afternoon. I thought I had a few, I was like running early. Yesterday I had a bunch of stuff to do with the kids in the morning. We had to run to Costco. I had to transition them to their dads. Then I had to go to a viewing, a friend of mine's dad passed away, but I was like kind of running ahead of schedule. So on my way home from the funeral home in Farmington, I thought I'm gonna stop at the Jack's Car Wash on Telegraph, okay? And like, I don't know what it is right there, Bloomfield, Telfield. Anyway, it's the way that the turnaround is the line and how long the line is is kind of hidden from the roads. I'm like, oh, it looks like there's not a lot of people there. I turn in and boom, it is wrapped around the place to get in. But even by the time I had turned in, cars were already lining up behind me and I was stuck. It's one of those lines that you get in and you can't get out of because there are other cars on either side of you and you can't back up. You can't go forward. So I sat there for 49 minutes. 49. From the time I got into the line until the time I drove out, it was 49 minutes. And when I got up to the little machine, I'm an unlimited club member, but something happened. I think the machine ran out of paper and it was out of order. So then when I pulled up to the guy and he's like knocking on my window, where's your receipt? He didn't know what car wash I was getting. I rolled down my window and I said, oh, it's just the basic one. It's not a big deal. And he was like, no, I need the code or the number. So then the car wash stopped as he had to go inside and do something. So it was. It was a long way. It was, yeah. It's got, the worst is, the worst is being in any kind of line, right? Nobody would go into Cedar Point or Disney and stand in those long lines, but you kind of ask for it a little bit like when you're going there. The car wash is a different thing. Every car wash is packed. It's so funny. A blink of sun comes out and everybody's got the same idea that you have. For sure. I texted Wes, I'm like, because he thought I was going to be home and he's like, where are you? I go, I'm at the car wash. He goes, you are an idiot. Why would you go to the car wash today? He said the same thing. Everybody's going to the car wash today. I'm not joking. During that time I painted my nails. I whitened my teeth and I called and caught up with my college friend, Julie. I mean, I take three things off my list. I was very productive. That's amazing. Which line is longer for you and more annoying for you? That line or last week you were talking about being in Michael's line, I think it was. Wasn't it Michael's? Honestly, this is probably the same amount of time. Yeah, the worst line is for me. And it's almost genius, the way that these establishments construct their lines. But any fast food line where there's like a brick wall where you literally cannot leave. Like you are locked in, especially if it's somebody behind you, they're like, no, you about to get these chicken nuggets. And you're hungry. Can I tell you that when you go to a fast food line and you are in the fast food line and there is a person in front of you that is elderly and the elderly person is ordering and you get all worked up. I sent this to Lydia yesterday. Lydia, how funny was that thing, the old man, the 83 year old man, take a listen to this, ordering at McDonald's, ready? Here you go, here's him. I did not expect this. Watch this. I know I shouldn't have done this. I am 83 years old. I was in the McDonald's drive-thru this morning. The young lady behind me leaned on her horn and started mouthing some ugly things because I was taking too long to place my order. So when I got to the first window, I paid for her order along with my own. The cashier must have told her what I had done because as we moved up, she leaned out her window and in a way to me, she began mouthing. Thank you, thank you. I'm probably feeling embarrassed that I had repaid her rudeness with kindness. When I got to the second window, I showed the server both receipts and I took her food too. Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Now she has to go back to the end and start all over again. Oh my God, that is so funny. Isn't that the greatest? But yeah, there is, I have in the morning the same Starbucks order at the same place every single day. I order literally the same thing. And I'll pull up to the window and usually I'm the first person there at five o'clock when they open up. And they'll go, hey Mojo, come on up. You know, like whatever they'll pull up there. Today, there was a black, dirty, he needed a car wash. Or she needed a car wash. Chevy Tahoe in front of me. And you know what I was upset about? The dirt. No, it was a person who must not know what order they want because they sat in that window for at least, they're talking to them and they're like, hold on a second here. Do I wanna hold that? And I can hear them off the window because I have my window kind of cracked open. And it's like, who doesn't know their order when they go up to any kind of a window? Everybody, bro. You know your order. You know. Sometimes your taste buds can change. Double quarter pounder with cheese, large fry, large coke, go. You gotta switch it up sometimes. Sometimes I see the photo and it plays with my brain and I'm like, wait. You cannot do this. You gotta, at two minutes, I would say, two minutes is enough time to peruse and then know what you want. Kevin, it's a fast food restaurant, meaning fast food, not slow food. That's the way they prepare it, not the way you order it. And McDonald's, you know, if they know you're slow, they make you go sit in a parking spot or if they're slow, they're sitting in a... Now that's what I don't like. They should... Call her. Don't tell me to pull up. They should make you always go into parking spot. If you're a person that's always slow, they should... I'm not for that. They should see you're in the window and go just pull into parking spot five. That is the bane of my existence. I get in line, order my food and you say, can you pull up a little bit? We'll bring it out. Like, no, that's what I'm here for. There's a window for you to pass my food through. I gotta stand up and wait for John to walk out the side door. That's not what we're here for. And go back to Shannon's car wash situation because I have that same membership that you have. Slow car wash employees should be canned on the spot and slow car wash members should be having their membership taken away from them. The whole point of going to get the car wash and having the monthly thing is, you drive in and you drive out. Is it slow for real? Yeah. You drive in. Is it like real hand wash? No. No. They drive in. They drive in. It took me. But the problem is, half the time people pull up to the thing and they can't figure out what buttons to push or they're... Dude, it's three no thank yous for me. Boom, boom, boom. I get my receipt. I go almost every day. No, I get the basic of basics. I get tire shine. No. But I don't pay for it. I get the basic of basics because I always have like a few bucks cash with me and tip them at the end if I have them do the towel. But... You gotta open the door to tip. Don't roll down the window. Yeah, you'll get streaks. I do the window first. But if you roll down the window and then tip them, they always wipe off the window again. What's up Jody? How you doing? Morning guys. Good morning. She wanted me to share my tech photos with you, Shannon. I went to the car wash and the line was out to the street but literally it was like 10 minutes maybe. It like just kept moving and moving so fast. I don't know what was going on. And then the guy behind me kept honking and I'm like, why are you honking at me? Clearly you can see that I can't move. Yeah. You're doing everything you can. Yeah, where are you right now? Is she at Jax? I am. It's Mary Brown, Mary go around Jody. I work at the plant build in the truck. Okay, see that? And Jody, you know this. You got to be productive in the same order. Otherwise you could shut an entire plant down. Can you imagine any of these bastards at the car wash trying to figure out how to make cars like you do? I know they would be shutting it down. I shut it down. Yes. Well, thank you for the call Jody. Appreciate you. Thank you. Have a good day. You too. Corey, what's going on? Hey, how's it going? Yeah, a little life hack on that one too. Tell them that your reverse in your car doesn't work. Tell them the reverse in your car doesn't work? What happens? At the drive-through window whenever you're ordering the food and then they won't make you go to a parking spot. So you tell them that your reverse in your car doesn't work? Right? People have that happen to them? I don't get it. Probably. But then I pissed at you because of instead of you getting out of the way to wait for your meal, now I have to wait for you to wait for your meal. So if you don't want to wait for hot fries, you say my reverse in my car doesn't work. That's so random. But going forward does, so why not just pull? Corey, you've got to back in the parking lot. Did you think it is yourself? Right? That doesn't make sense. That doesn't make sense. The math ain't mapping. Yeah. Whenever they make you pull into a spot and you don't feel like pulling over into that spot, just say your reverse doesn't work and they'll be like, okay, wait right here and I'll get you your food. They always tell me pull for. That's amazing. They're probably just confused. What's up, Samantha? What's going on? So my cat's by the fast food. I'm just over through the app. That way you know what you want. Yes, Kevin. You can go give them your code and then you're good to go. Although it pisses me off when I do that with McDonald's sometimes and they don't make the food right away. They wait until you're literally in the line and then it takes forever. But how many points do you have? A lot. They start expiring. I know Ms. Fit Victor has like 100,000 points and he won't cash them in because he wants to have the record of the most points. Do you ever use the Chick-fil-A app? It knows your location so it knows when to start your food. Oh, really? Yes. I love that. That place has always got it going on. What's going on? How you doing Morgan? Hey, good morning guys. Good morning. Hey Shannon, I'm sorry to happen to you Shannon but I think I know what happened. I think Kevin was probably ahead of you in the line trying to figure out what wash you wanted. Exactly. You look at my car man. Ain't no way it's washed. You know what I mean? You guys, I'm addicted to washing my car. Me too. That unlimited membership is like the best thing ever. If I have five extra minutes I'm like, of course I'm going to go to the car wash. Might as well get my money's worth. See that's the money's worth thing for me. I don't even care about having a clean car. I just want to make sure I can put Jacks out of business. What's up Jim? How you doing? Good morning Mojo. Slow the hell down. What? Slow down. Why? Too many people want instant gratification. You can go to a drive-through. You can be slow. You can check out the menu. You may change your mind a couple times. Hurry up. Jim. And I had the car wash membership and got a car wash every day. Oh yeah. Jim, if you pull into any business that you know you're going to order something, you know at least five to 10 minutes before you pulled in what you're going to order. And even if you just veer off into it, when you're pulling in there, you go in because you have a taste for something. Order fast Jim. Now slow. I can't. Pull in. Taco Bell for instance, adds new damn things to the menu. That part. Continue items weekly. They're all the same ingredients. Look at the menu. Now, something tastes better. I love that you just, something tastes better. Jim, I order my fast food like I make love fast. So. Yeah, yeah, fast and quick. Exactly. Exactly. Poor Charles. Hold on a second. Courtney, are you there Courtney? Hi, good morning. Good morning, Courtney. Courtney says the worst place to be stuck is where? The parking garage. When you pull up and it stops working all of a sudden and then there's a long line behind you and everyone thinks you're an idiot because you can't hit the button. It's the absolute worst. It's so embarrassing because you can't back up. That's a great one. And then all you want to do is drive through that gate. My friend did. Yeah. And the one in Ann Arbor, they always break. They are always breaking. And then you hit the call button and no one answers. They make you feel like you're an idiot. Yeah, that's funny. Chris, what's up? It's Mojo on the morning. Hi, Chris. Hi. I just wanted to say that the worst is when you're in the car wash and the attendants have you pulled so close to the car in front of you or the car behind you. And I'm so scared that I'm going to get in an accident in the car wash because you're on that conveyor belt thing. You know what? My car won't let me. And I've had to say that to them. My car like automatically will stop and it's jarring if I get a certain distance away. You were talking about not being able to get out of the car wash because you're trapped in. Nobody traps Leonard in. What's up, Leonard? What happened to you? Hey, what's going on? No, I've been trapped in the car wash or in fast food lines. But the ones that have like the small curves with the rocks and like the shrubs or whatever it is, I'll just drive right over. I'll drive right over. Drive a Jeep. It's skid plates underneath it. I sit up tall enough. I got a list on it and bigger tires. I just drive right over. Stepway to four wheel drive. Four wheel drive. I love it. Thank you for the call, Leonard. We'll talk to you later, buddy. All right. Bye.